Dictionary    Maps    Thesaurus    Translate    Advanced >   


Tip: Click Thesaurus above for synonyms. Also, follow synonym links within the dictionary to find definitions from other sources.

1. WordNet® 3.0 (2006)
opening
    adj 1: first or beginning; "the memorable opening bars of
           Beethoven's Fifth"; "the play's opening scene" [ant:
           closing]
    n 1: an open or empty space in or between things; "there was a
         small opening between the trees"; "the explosion made a gap
         in the wall" [syn: opening, gap]
    2: a ceremony accompanying the start of some enterprise
    3: becoming open or being made open; "the opening of his arms
       was the sign I was waiting for"
    4: the first performance (as of a theatrical production); "the
       opening received good critical reviews" [syn: opening,
       opening night, curtain raising]
    5: the act of opening something; "the ray of light revealed his
       cautious opening of the door" [ant: closing, shutting]
    6: opportunity especially for employment or promotion; "there is
       an opening in the sales department"
    7: the initial part of the introduction; "the opening
       established the basic theme"
    8: a possible alternative; "bankruptcy is always a possibility"
       [syn: possibility, possible action, opening]
    9: an aperture or hole that opens into a bodily cavity; "the
       orifice into the aorta from the lower left chamber of the
       heart" [syn: orifice, opening, porta]
    10: a vacant or unobstructed space that is man-made; "they left
        a small opening for the cat at the bottom of the door"
    11: an entrance equipped with a hatch; especially a passageway
        between decks of a ship [syn: hatchway, opening,
        scuttle]
    12: a recognized sequence of moves at the beginning of a game of
        chess; "he memorized all the important chess openings" [syn:
        opening, chess opening]
    13: the first of a series of actions [syn: first step,
        initiative, opening move, opening]

2. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Open \O"pen\ v. t. [imp. & p. p. Opened; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Opening.] [AS. openian. See Open,a.]
   1. To make or set open; to render free of access; to unclose;
      to unbar; to unlock; to remove any fastening or covering
      from; as, to open a door; to open a box; to open a room;
      to open a letter.
      [1913 Webster]

            And all the windows of my heart
            I open to the day.                    --Whittier.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To spread; to expand; as, to open the hand.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To disclose; to reveal; to interpret; to explain.
      [1913 Webster]

            The king opened himself to some of his council, that
            he was sorry for the earl's death.    --Bacon.
      [1913 Webster]

            Unto thee have I opened my cause.     --Jer. xx. 12.
      [1913 Webster]

            While he opened to us the Scriptures. --Luke xxiv.
                                                  32.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. To make known; to discover; also, to render available or
      accessible for settlements, trade, etc.
      [1913 Webster]

            The English did adventure far for to open the North
            parts of America.                     --Abp. Abbot.
      [1913 Webster]

   5. To enter upon; to begin; as, to open a discussion; to open
      fire upon an enemy; to open trade, or correspondence; to
      open an investigation; to open a case in court, or a
      meeting.
      [1913 Webster]

   6. To loosen or make less compact; as, to open matted cotton
      by separating the fibers.
      [1913 Webster]

   To open one's mouth, to speak.

   To open up, to lay open; to discover; to disclose.
      [1913 Webster]

            Poetry that had opened up so many delightful views
            into the character and condition of our "bold
            peasantry, their country's pride."    --Prof.
                                                  Wilson.
      [1913 Webster]

3. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Opening \O"pen*ing\, n.
   1. The act or process of opening; a beginning; commencement;
      first appearance; as, the opening of a speech.
      [1913 Webster]

            The opening of your glory was like that of light.
                                                  --Dryden.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A place which is open; a breach; an aperture; a gap;
      cleft, or hole.
      [1913 Webster]

            We saw him at the opening of his tent. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Hence: An opportunity; as, an opening for business.
      [Colloq.] --Dickens.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. Hence: A vacant place; a job which does not have a current
      occupant; as, they are now interviewing candidates for the
      two openings in the department.
      [PJC]

   5. A thinly wooded space, without undergrowth, in the midst
      of a forest; a clearing; as, oak openings. [U.S.]
      --Cooper.
      [1913 Webster]

Thesaurus Results for OPENING:

1. Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
a leg up, abysm, abyss, access, adit, air lock, aisle, alley, alpha, ambulatory, aperture, apparition, appearance, appearing, appointment, approach, arcade, arising, arroyo, artery, avatar, avenue, bareness, barrenness, beginning, berth, billet, birth, blankness, blast-off, bleakness, blowhole, box canyon, breach, break, canyon, cavity, chance, channel, chap, chasm, check, chimney, chink, chute, clear stage, cleft, cleuch, cloister, clough, col, colonnade, coming, coming into being, coming-forth, commencement, communication, conduit, connection, corridor, coulee, couloir, covered way, crack, cranny, creation, crevasse, crevice, cut, cutting edge, cwm, dawn, dawning, debouch, debut, defile, dell, demonstration, desertedness, desolateness, dike, disclosure, discontinuity, display, ditch, donga, door, draw, edge, egress, emergence, employment, emptiness, emunctory, enactment, engagement, entrance, entranceway, entree, entry, entryway, epiphany, escape, establishment, estuary, excavation, exhaust, exhibit, exhibition, exit, exposition, exposure, fair field, fair game, fault, ferry, fissure, flaw, floodgate, flume, flying start, foothold, ford, forthcoming, foundation, fracture, fresh start, furrow, gallery, gangplank, gangway, gap, gape, gash, gig, gorge, groove, gulch, gulf, gully, hall, hole, hollowness, in, inanition, inauguration, incarnation, incision, incumbency, ingress, initiation, inlet, institution, intake, interchange, intersection, issuance, job, joint, jump-off, junction, kick-off, kloof, lane, launch, leading edge, leak, liberty, look-in, loophole, manifestation, materialization, materializing, means of access, moat, moonlighting, new departure, noninhabitance, nonoccupance, nonoccupancy, nonresidence, notch, nullah, occasion, occurrence, office, oncoming, onset, open arms, open door, opportunism, opportunity, orifice, origin, origination, ostentation, out, outbreak, outcome, outfall, outgate, outgo, outlet, outset, outstart, overpass, pass, passage, passageway, performance, pit, place, place open, pore, port, portico, position, post, presentation, presentment, production, projection, railroad tunnel, ravine, realization, rent, representation, retrospective, revelation, rift, rime, rise, rising, room, running start, rupture, sally port, scissure, scope, seam, second job, send-off, separation, service, setout, setting in motion, setting-up, shot, show, showing, showing forth, situation, slit, slot, sluice, spiracle, split, spout, square one, squeak, start, start-off, starting point, station, stepping-stone, take-off, tap, tenure, theophany, time, traject, trajet, trench, tunnel, underpass, unfolding, unfoldment, unveiling, vacancy, vacant post, vacuity, valley, varnishing day, vent, ventage, venthole, vernissage, vestibule, void, voidness, vomitory, wadi, way, way in, way out, weir
Common Misspellings >
Most Popular Searches: Define Misanthrope, Define Pulchritudinous, Define Happy, Define Veracity, Define Cornucopia, Define Almuerzo, Define Atresic, Define URL, Definitions Of Words, Definition Of Get Up, Definition Of Quid Pro Quo, Definition Of Irreconcilable Differences, Definition Of Word, Synonyms of Repetitive, Synonym Dictionary, Synonym Antonyms. See our main index and map index for more details.

©2011-2024 ZebraWords.com - Define Yourself - The Search for Meanings and Meaning Means I Mean. All content subject to terms and conditions as set out here. Contact Us, peruse our Privacy Policy